Cal Maritime adds Marketplace
Area on campus has large patio near waterfront with views of Carquinez Bridge
Cal Maritime cadets have a new option for food on campus as the Marketplace and its adjoining outdoor patio had a grand opening on Tuesday afternoon.
The Marketplace offers a large selection of pre-made hot meals set up in a grab-and-go method as well as selling a variety of individually-packaged food and grocery items. Another new feature — a 1,650-square foot patio — was also unveiled, expanding outdoor dining space.
“What goes through my mind today when I see this is that it’s all finally been accomplished,” Cal Maritime Senior and Student Housing Director, Connor Crutchfield said. “We’ve been talking about something like this working for some time.”
“We set out to do something — an idea — and it’s been turned into reality,” said President Tom Cropper in a news release. “It’s a beautiful day to celebrate that reality.”
The entire marketplace and patio was paid for and made by Sodexo. The cost was $1.5 million.
Throughout the Fall 2020 semester, a Food and Menu Advisory Committee worked in collaboration with various groups, both on and off campus, to develop a COVID-acceptable, affordable, and flexible dining program for cadets for the spring 2021 semester, according to a Cal Maritime release.
It was endorsed by the Academic Senate Executive Committee and the Triad and approved by the Cabinet.
As part of the new food service contract with Sodexo which began in December 2019, the company worked with Cal Maritime on the new dining offerings. Sodexo also committed to fully funding a new exterior patio facing the waterfront that can be used for campus events, meals, or other reserved activities. Constructed over the past four months, the patio also provides ample outdoor seating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It feels great to see this today,” said Mark Goodrich, associate vice president for Enterprise Service. “It’s all about the cadets and I’m glad we’re giving them flexibility, a choice of different products and a beautiful view. It’s a relaxing place to come to between classes and hopefully we can one day have special events take place here as well. Who wouldn’t enjoy this place?”
“This took a lot of work and days to complete, but in the end it’s a relief,” Brett Ladd, Chief Executive Officer of Sodexo said. “The service is outstanding and it’s a different place to dine with an outstanding patio.”
The new Marketplace will offer …
• Hot food stations featuring local vendors, such as Sunrise Bistro
• Fresh produce and assorted salads
• Kikka Sushi made fresh daily
• Freshly made wraps, sandwiches, yogurt parfaits and more
• A vast assortment of beverages — water, energy drinks, sodas, coffee, tea and dairy
• Seasonal limited time offers — snacks, pastries, entrees and more
• Heat and eat items for Cadets on the go
• Snacks — salty and sweet
• Vegetarian, vegan and special diet options always available upon request
Although the new Markeplace and patio are welcomed the day comes with a little bit of sadness as well as the grand opening came just six months after 15 union employees at Cal Maritime were let go, including the famous cook loved by many students nicknamed, “Mama.”
The 15 employees were were given a 90-day notice that they would be let go due to COVID-19 and a lack of students (less than 500 instead of the usual 800-900). The school retained 22 hourly employees and five managers in the dining center.
“Because of the reduced number of cadets now living and learning on our campus, we’re facing revenue shortfalls. As a result, we are compelled to make some adjustments,” said Sarah Kidwell in September. Kidwell is Cal Maritime’s senior director of Public Affairs and Strategic Communication.
This led to a student protest in the main parking lot in September. Junior Peter Gilmore and a few others students led a passive protest in the “L” parking lot.
“I paid for ‘three hots and a cot’ and if I’m not getting hot meals, I’m not getting what I paid for,” Gilmore told the TimesHerald in September. “Just about nothing, there’s nothing we can do other than going through the associated students we have little to no voice.”
Crutchfield said that although he loves the new dining center, he still misses the former dining center employees.
“I didn’t know ‘Mama’ as much as some other students here, but she was very popular and loved by many,” Crutchfield said. “Before when she was here there was buffet style dining, but once COVID hit there was little we could do getting food that way. I don’t think this big picture of this new dining center was in a lot of people’s minds when they were let go. We still miss them a lot, but we’re doing our best to get back to normal.”
The Marketplace could eventually become even more resourceful. South Vallejo has a lack of close grocery stores and ultimately, said Goodrich, the Marketplace will be open to the public and serve as an additional grocery shopping resource for the City of Vallejo.
“Once the pandemic is behind us, we’re hopeful that members of the greater Vallejo community will be able to enjoy our dining offerings as well as our view,” Goodrich said.
Vallejo City Council District 6 representative Cristina Arriola joined the festivities Tuesday and also shared her appreciation for Cal Maritime and what the new Marketplace will bring to the area. “I love this campus,” she said in a news release. “It’s a diamond in this part of town.”